Stoking mechanism



June 4, 1935. E, RYAN Er AL.

STOKING MECHANI SM 2 Sheets-Sheet l i Original Filed Nov. 24, 1928 June 4, E, RYAN ET AL STOKING MECHANISM Original nFlecl Nov. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nw mit; .mw |f QW w gn .u

. M www5 i T l l Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES aooam sTomNo.' MECHANISM Edward Ryan, Knox, Ind., and Ernest R. Funk, Galesburg, Ill., assignors to The Standard Stoker Company,

Incorporated, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 24, 1928, Serial No. 321,541

Renewed November 3, 1934 Y 6 Claims.

The invention relates generally to stoking mechanisms and more particularly to a new and improved stoking mechanism especially adapted for use on locomotives having a wide grate.

It is the general object of the invention to provide an improved stoking mechanism adapted to distribute the fuel uniformly on a wide grate and intermittently to the opposite sides thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide such an improved mechanism embodying means for delivering the fuel to the fire box through two laterally spaced conduits.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved stolring mechanism embodying novel means for firing the two sides of the grate alternately and intermittently.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stoking mechanism embodying a pair of downwardly extending distributing conduits through which the fuel is delivered into the fire box, a single screw conveyor for elevating fuel to said conduits, a distributing nozzle for each conduit andV means for distributing fuel from said conveyor to the conduits.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a stoking mechanism embodying a reciprocating member arranged to feed fuel alternately from said elevating conveyor to the conduits together with means for reciprocating said member.

a stoker embodying a slightly inclined screw conveyor for transporting the fuel from beneath the bin to an upwardly inclined screw conveyor mounted on the locomotive and adapted to deliver fuel from its upper end into a conduit entering the fire box above the mud ring, and meansv for rotating the screws of said conveyors continuously during operation of the stoker.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the'description proceeds.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevational View partly in'sectio'n through a stoking mechanism embodying the invention in its preferred form, associated with the fuel bin and the rear part of the fire box of a tender and locomotive respectively.

Fig. 2 is afragmentary elevational view taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 isa' fragmentary elevational view on an l enlarged scale, partly in section, of the alternate firing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide (Cl. 11G-101) Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of said mechanism taken along the line5-5 o f Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, partly'in section, taken along the line 'I-'I of Fig. 4 (on a reducedV scale).

- Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section o fA Fig. 5 with the steam outlet pipes shown diagrammatically to illustrate the arrangementof the valve. y

As illustrated in the drawings and particularly in Fig. 1, a tender I is shown coupled toa locomotive frame 2. A fuel bin 3 suitably mounted uponv the tender is provided with a bottom having an elongated discharge opening 4, therein adapted to be closed by a plurality of slidable plates 5. An approximately horizontal casing 16' enclosing a feed screw Iis positionedbeneath the bin and is arranged to receive fuel from the bin and to convey it forwardly, this casing at its forward end being connected to'an upwardly inclined approximately vertical casing 8 enclosing a second feed screw 9. The casing 8 extends upwardly and forwardly from the forward end of the casing 6 and at its upper end connects with a conduit'which enters the rear wall I0 of the fire box Illa of the locomotive above the mud ring. In the exemplary form, the casing 8 connects at its upper end with a divided conduit in the form of a pair of distributing or'discharge conduits or tubes II and I2 (Figs. 2, 5 and 7) which as illustrated herein, extend from opposite sides fo the upper portion 8e of the casing 8, downwardly and forwardly through laterally spaced apertures I5 in the wall I0 of the fire box above the ring 63. j l

The invention contemplates that the screwsV I and 9, which screws are preferably driven continuously during operation of the stoker, from a single prime mover, will deliver fuel to the upper portion of the casing 8 from where it may, if desired, be forced into the conduit entering the fire box by additional fuel fed by the screws and furtheremore by means of a steam spraying mechanism as hereinafter more fully described. The invention contemplates also that mechanical means may be embodied forfeeding fuel through the discharge conduits and to this end the portion 8a of the casing is preferably rectangular in form (Fig. 6) and has mounted therein for ad- ,justment or reciprocatory movement transversely more fully described, may be positioned stationon the line 8-'8 Y veyor casing S has a ball and socket connection I8 with a rearwardly extending portion 9% ofthe upwardly extending conveyor'casing 8, 4and at its rear end the casing 6 is suspended from the bin structure by means of a pair of rods I9 (Fig. 3) having ball and socket connections I9` at their upper ends with brackets 20 mounted `on the bin supports and at the other ends with a cross bar 2l formed integrally with the casing 6. portion ofthe casing 6 which is beneath the bin opening 4 is open above as shown in Fig. 3 and is providedwith upwardly inclined side walls 22 having horizontally extending flanges 2.3 along their upper-edges. A sealing ring 24 is normally spring pressed downwardlyrby means of springs 25, into constant engagement with the side flanges 23y and end walls *23a (Fig. 1) and has al telescopic connection with avdownwardly extending rim 26 secured tothe bottom 3a of `the bin and surrounding the opening 4. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3 the rim 26 has a beveled surface 21 underlying the binabottom 3a adjacent the opening 4 and the plates 5 having their side edges formed toa ycorresponding bevel 28. By this arrangement the bin bottom and the rim cooperate to form V-shaped guidewaysfor the plates 5 and there is no tendencyv for Vthe fuel to collect on the supporting surfaces 21 for the plates.

With the casing 6 `suspended at its rear end from the bin structure the invention provides a prime mover 29 mounted on a bracket 25|a secured to the rear Aend of the casing, together with suitable reduction gearing in a fhousing 38 intermediate the prime mover and the feed lscrew 1 so that the rear vend of the casing vIi supports the prime mover and intermediate connections. Preferably the upwardly extending feed screw 9 is driven from the same prime mover as by means of a flexible shaft 3I driven at its rear end by the gearing in housing -30 and connected at its forward end by means of a universal :connection 32, positioned adjacent the ball joint I8, to a short shaft 33 rotatably mounted in a gear casing 34 secured to the lower end of the conveyor casing 8. The forward end ofthe shaft v33 carries abevel gear 35 which meshes with a` gear 36 secured to the drive shaft 31 of the feed screw E).` Thus the casing 6 has a movable connection with the tender to provide for articulation between the locomotive and tender. A baiile plate 38 surrounding the shaft 31 at the lower end of the casing 8 has its upwardly vin said casing from whence it will bev fed into the discharge conduits either due to' the feeding action of the screw alone or inadditio'n That by means of the member I5 when power operated.

In order1 to discharge the fuel from the conduits II and I2 through the horizontal portions I3 and I4 thereof and into the ire box, the invention contemplates the provision of a pair of steam nozzles 39 of any preferred design, which nozzles are positioned at the rear ends of the portions I3 and I4.

The member I6 which the invention embodies l'for use either as a stationary distributing vane or as part ofV an intermittent or alternate firing mechanism is hereindisclosed as being mounted on a reciprocatory bar 40 slidably supported in bearing portions 4I formed on opposite sides of the Vcasing portion 8a (Figs. 4 to 7). This rod is mounted adjacent the forward edge of the casing as shown lin Figs. 4 and 6 so as to permit the shaft vr31 of the feed screw 9 to be extended upwardly through the top of the casing for the purpose of drivingthe reciprocating mechanism for the member I6 and a steam control valve as hereinafter more fully described. The member I6 is herein disclosed as being somewhat rectangular in shape (Fig. 4) and as being positioned entirely on the forward side of the shaft 31. The conduits II and I2 are however, preferably narrower than the casing portion 8a as shown in Figs. l, 4

and 6, so that the member I6 is an effective meansV nut 46 threaded on its opposite end 45. The nut is suitably mounted rotatably upon an upwardly extending portion of an angularly shaped member 41, the horizontal extending portion of which' has a pivotal connection by means of a pin 48 with a bracket 49 secured to the outer end of the y bar 4I).V Thus'the eccentricity of the pin 42 on the cam disk 43 'determines the stroke of the member I 6 and by means of adjusting the nut 46 on the rod 44 the path of reciprocation of the member may be displaced laterally of the casing v8 so as to vary relative the amounts of fuel delivered to the conduits II and I2.

"In order to supply steam to the nozzles 39 at proper times for distributing the' fuel when fed intermittently, a suitable valve 50 may 'be 5g provided having a steam'inlet pipe 5I and'outlet pipes 52, 53 leading to the two nozzles. The valve member 58EL of the valve 50 is provided with a stem 5, the outer end of which carries a roller 55 adapted to be engaged by the cam disk 43. This cam vis so shaped that it Vactuates the valve 58 properly to admit steam to the nozzles in imed relation with the reciprocation of vthe member I6. The spring 80 in the valve 50 maintains the roller E25-in engagement with the Vcam disc '43. In order to permit of simultaneous ring with the member I5 stationary, a pipe 5.8 is Aprovided con necting the pipes 52 and 53, together with a valve 51 therein, so thatb-y opening the valve 51 steam which passes through the valve 55 through either pipe 52 ,or` 53 is ldistributed to vboth nozzles 39.

The invention provides not only .an vimproved mechanism insofar as the conveying and distributing of the .fuelis concerned but includes also an improved means for delivering the fuel finto III) the re box. In its exemplary form, this means serves to assist in the disrtibution of the fuel into the lire box and to protect the delivery conduits from. injury because of the intense heat. This means comprises hollow or water lagged baille plates 58 extending from the upper edge of the conduit portions I3 and I4 and into the fire box I to assist in directing the discharge of the fuel downwardly onto the grate, and includes combined bailie and distributing plates 59, also of hollow water lagged construction, extending from the lower edges of the conduit portions I3 and I4. The plates 59 are provided with downwardly inclined channels 6U arranged to permit some of the fuel to be discharged therethrough onto the rear portion of the grate. Suitable water connections 6I and 62 may be provided A between the plates B and 59 and the rear wall I0 of the locomotive for the `purpose of passing water through the plates to keep them sufficiently cool to avoid injury to the forward ends thereof which extend into the fire box.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides an improved stoking mechanism for wide grate locomotives arranged efficiently for operation either for simultaneous or intermittent firing. The provision of a single vertical screw conveyor in serial relation to the horizontal conveyor together with a pair of delivery conduits leading frcm the upper end of the vertical conveyor, and feeding means betweenv the casing and conduits affords a simple and efficient mechanism Ifor alternately firing the two sides of the grate. This mechanism is readily adjustable during the operation of the Stoker to vary the distribution to the two sides of the grate.

It will also be apparent that with the intermittent firing mechanism inoperative, the invention provides an improved stoking mechanism embodying a vertical screw conveyor feeding into discharge conduits which enter the fire box above the mud ring 63 and thereby do not reduce the grate area. In connection with either method of operation, the provision of water lagged baffle plates projecting into the fire box from the delivery tubes aids in the eicient distribution of the fuel onto the grate and prevents injury to the plates from the intense heat. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the delivery conduit portions I3 and I4 are arranged to enter the fire box on a level with and intermediate the hand firing doors 64 and 65 but as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the relative positions of the tubes I3 and I4 and the doors 64 and 65 may be modified to meet existing conditions.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a Stoker, in combination with a iirebox, a screw conveyor casing arranged to extend upwardly outside the rear Wall of the ilre box, a feed screw therein, a pair of discharge conduits connected to said casing and communicating with the firebox through the rear wall thereof, means cooperating with said feed screw to distribute the fuel as it is discharged from the upper end of the casing adjustable to vary the distribution to the opposite sides of the casing, and means imparting reciprocating 'movement to said first named means for alternately delivering fuel to one and then to the other of said discharge conduits.

2. A Stoker having, in combination with a rebox, a conveyor casing extending substantially parallel to and upwardly along the outer side of the nre box, a feed screw in said casing,

means for continuously operating said screw during the operation of the Stoker, means for feeding fuel from a bin to the lower end of said casing, a pair of discharge conduits connected to said casing adjacent its upper end and communicating with the lire box, a distributing vane in the upper end of said casing, means for supporting said vane arranged to permit reciprocatory movement of the vanetransversely of the casing and mechanism connected to the feed screw shaft arranged to reciprocate said vane for feeding fuel alternately to said conduits.

3. In combination with a rebox having an upstanding wall, a stoker conveyor casing arranged to extend upwardly along said wall, means in said casing for delivering fuel to an upper portion thereof, a divided delivery conduit having parts extending from the upper end of said casing arranged to communicate with horizontally spaced apertures in the flre box Wall, a member movable transversely of and within the upper end of the casing, means imparting reciprocating motion to said movable member to deliver fuel alternately tol the parts of said conduit, and adjustable means for varying the limits of the transverse movement of said movable member.

4. A locomotive stoker having, in combination, with a locomotive re box, a conveyor casing extending upwardly along the rear wall of the fire box, a feed screw in said casing having a shaft projecting upwardly through the top of the casing, a pair of delivery conduits extending from the upper end of the casing to the firebox, means in the upper end of said casing arranged to direct fuel alternately into said delivery conduits and means operatively connected with the up-v per end of said shaft for operating said firstV named means.

5. A Stoker having, in combination with a firebox, a conveyor casing arranged to extend upwardly along the wall of the fire box, a feed screw in said casing having a shaft projecting upwardly through the top of the casing, a pair of delivery conduits extending from an upper portion of the casing and arranged to communicate with the fire box, means in the upper end of said casing arranged to direct fuel alternately to said conduits, means operatively connected with the upper end of said shaft for operating said first named means, a pair of steam nozzles associated with said conduits for discharging the fuel therefrom, a valve controlling the passage of steam to said nozzles alternately, and means to operate said valve having a driving connection with the upper end of said shaft.

6. A stoker, having in combination with a firebox, a fuel conveyor casing extending upwardly along the wall Vof the fire box, a pair of delivery conduits extending from the upper end of said casing to the fire box, and means for feeding fuel alternately through said conduits comprising a feed screw in said casing, a distributing vane in the upper end of said casing arranged for transverse reciprocatory movement for directing fuel alternately to one and then the other of said conduits, a pair of steam nozzles associatedwith said conduits and a valve controlling the passage of steam to said nozzles alternately, and means for operating said distributing vane.

EDWARD RYAN. ERNEST R. FUNK. 

